Blueberry plant named ‘C12-122’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘C12-122’ is provided. ‘C12-122’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of unpatented parents ‘FL09-003’ and ‘FL08-013’.

Latin name of the genus, and species:

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘C12-122’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘C12-122’ was selected from a population of seedlingsderived from crossing the blueberry varieties known as ‘FL09-003’(unpatented seed parent) and the variety known as ‘FL08-013’ (unpatentedpollen parent). The cross was made in 2009 in Florida, USA and the seedwas sown and grown on in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Thenew variety was selected in 2012 from among plants located on land atCorindi Beach and assigned the breeding code ‘C12-122’. Plants of‘C12-122’ were propagated by cuttings for further evaluation andresulted to be uniform and stable. The new variety showed distinctivetraits such as evergreen, vigorous, good size and firm fruit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Asexual reproduction of the new variety ‘C12-122’ by cutting propagationsince 2012 at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia has demonstratedthat the new variety reproduces true to type plants.

The new variety was selected in 2012 as a single plant within apopulation of seedlings resulting from controlled cross of Vacciniumvarieties. The seedling population was planted in an experimental blockin the field at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia and theselection of the new variety took place in the same block. Selectioncriteria were a combination of early season crop, low chillingrequirement, strong vigour, non-deciduous type of plant (evergreen) andvery large fruit size. The new variety was subsequently evaluated foreight years at the commercial farm at Corindi Beach, New South Wales,Australia.

The following characteristics of the new variety have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘C12-122’ as a new and distinctvariety of Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid:

-   -   1. Non-deciduous (Evergreen)    -   2. Early season crop    -   3. Upright growth habit    -   4. Low chilling requirement (estimated between 0 and 300 hours)    -   5. Very large fruit size, average 4.1 g    -   6. Firm fruit

The new blueberry variety ‘C12-122’ has maintained its distinguishedcharacteristics throughout successive asexual propagation. The varietyhas been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings inNew South Wales, Australia and the clones are phenotypically identicalto the original plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘C12-122’. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C12-122’, growing in soil.Photos show 6 year old plants.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C12-122’, showing thebotanical parts of the plants (blue fruit, green fruit, flowers andleaves).

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the typical fruit cluster of the variety‘C12-122’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the large fruit size of the new variety‘C12-122’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph showing the typical fruit calyx of the variety‘C12-122’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘C12-122’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the originalselection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics areapproximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. For alltraits data was collected from 3 plant parts across 6 randomly selectedplants. For the traits relating to fruits (e.g., fruit weight, firmness,brix, acidity) the data is an average across twenty fruits collectedrandomly. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years ofage, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in CorindiBeach, New South Wales, 2456 Australia. Descriptions of fruitcharacteristics were made on fruit grown in Corindi Beach, New SouthWales, 2456 Australia. Color designations are from the 2007 edition ofThe Royal Horticultural Society (“R.H.S.”) Colour Chart. ‘C12-122’ hasnot been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype mayvary slightly with different growing environments such as temperature,light, fertility, soil pH, moisture and maturity levels, but without anychange in the genotype.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—corymbosum hybrid.        -   d. Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage: Female Parent—unpatented selection ‘FL09-003’. Male    Parent—unpatented selection ‘FL08-013’.-   Market class: Fresh market.

PLANT

-   General:    -   -   Parentage.—FL09-003 x FL08-013.        -   Plant height.—1.4 m.        -   Plant width.—1.1 m.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Growth.—Strong vigour.        -   Productivity.—High. Average of 6.5 Kg per plant (estimated            equivalent production of 14.3 pounds per plant) from            3-year-old plants when growing in 17 L pots at Corindi            Beach, NSW. The plants are spaced at 0.7 m apart along the            row and 2.5 m between the rows, which gives an estimated            plant density of 5700 plants per hectare.        -   Cold hardiness.—Low chill (USDA plant hardiness Zone 4).        -   Cold tolerance.—Low.        -   Chilling requirement.—Very low, estimated between 0 and 300            hours.        -   Tolerance to disease.—None assessed.        -   Leafing.—Overall medium, plant retains leaves during the            winter in low chill environments (zone 4).        -   Disease resistance.—The variety is tolerant to blueberry            leaf rust (Thekopsora minima).        -   Heat tolerance.—Moderately resistant to heat.        -   Twigginess.—Low.

STEM

-   General:    -   -   Bark texture.—Rough.        -   One-year-old shoot's color designation.—The base color is            green group, similar to 139C.        -   Mature cane length.—0.73 m.        -   Mature cane width.—12.9 mm.        -   Mature cane color.—Grey-orange group, similar to 165A, with            streak of grey-brown group, similar to 199B.        -   Fall color on new shoots.—Base color is green group, similar            to 137C and with over color, red-purple group, similar to            59A.        -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   Internode length on strong, new shoots.—33.3 mm.        -   Fruiting wood in length.—40.0 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   General:    -   -   Leaf color (top side).—Green group, similar to N137B.        -   Leaf color (under side).—Yellow-green, similar to 147C.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf venation.—Reticulate.        -   Leaf length.—Long to very long (69.9 mm).        -   Leaf width.—Broad (36.6 mm).        -   Leaf length/width ratio.—1.9.        -   Shape of the leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of the leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf nectaries.—Absent.        -   Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.        -   Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.        -   Attitude.—Horizontal.-   Petioles:    -   -   Length.—Average 3.7 mm.        -   Width.—Average 2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green group 145A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   Time of beginning of flower.—Early to mid-season (50% of            anthesis estimated to be on the 15^(th) of June, on 3 year            old plants, cultivated at Corindi Beach, NSW).        -   Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   Flower fragrance.—No.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Urceolate.        -   Color.—White group NN155C.        -   Length.—7.3 mm.        -   Width of widest region.—7.3 mm.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth.        -   Petal width (ridge to ridge).—4.54 mm.        -   Aperture diameter.—Narrow, on average 3.04 mm.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent or very weak.        -   Corolla ridges.—Present, average of 5.        -   Protrusion of stigma.—Present, but very small.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   Diameter.—3.85 mm.        -   Color of sepal's outside.—Green group, similar to 144B.        -   Color of sepal's inside.—Green group, similar to 144D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence length (excluding peduncle).—Long, 27.5 mm.        -   Inflorescence width.—24.58 mm.        -   Flower length (excluding pedicel).—10.4 mm.        -   Flower diameter.—6.58 mm.        -   Flower length/width ratio.—1.58.        -   Surface texture of peduncle.—Medium (between rough and            smooth).        -   Color of peduncle.—Yellow-green group, similar to 145A, with            greyed-red group, similar to 182A on top.        -   Length of flower pedicel.—11.04 mm.        -   Surface texture of pedicel.—Medium (between rough and            smooth).        -   Color of pedicel.—Group, similar to 146A and 146C.        -   Number of flowers per cluster.—10 on average.        -   Flower cluster density.—Dense.        -   Flowering interval on current year shoot.—June to end of            July.        -   Flowering interval on one-year old shoot.—June to August.-   Stamen:    -   -   Length.—6.3 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Yellow-green group 145C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Pistil length (including ovary).—10.32 mm.        -   Style length (including stigma).—8.15 mm.        -   Style color.—Yellow-green group, similar to N144B and 145B.-   Anther:    -   -   Length.—3.5 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange group, similar to 165A.-   Pollen:    -   -   Abundance.—Medium.        -   Color.—Yellow group 11C.        -   Self-compatibility.—Yes, this variety shows a high degree of            self-compatibility and high degree of parthenocarpic fruit.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   Time of fruit ripening.—Early, estimated 50% of the fruit            ripe on the 15^(th) of August, on 3 year old plants, growing            at Corindi Beach, NSW.        -   Plant fruiting types.—One-year-old and current seasons            shoots.        -   Cluster density.—Dense, 9 berries per cluster.        -   Unripe fruit color.—Yellow-green-145A.        -   Ripe berry color.—Blue group 103A, when bloom is removed.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Strong.        -   Berry weight.—Very large, average 4.1 g.        -   Berry height from calyx to scar.—15.6 mm.        -   Berry diameter.—20.1 mm.        -   Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   Fruit diameter of calyx basin.—Medium, on average 6.6 mm.        -   Fruit depth of calyx basin.—Medium.        -   Fruit stem scar.—Medium and dry.        -   Sweetness when ripe.—Medium (12 Brix).        -   Firmness when ripe.—Firm 191 g/mm, measured with FirmTech.        -   Acidity when ripe.—Very high (1%).        -   Berry flesh color.—Yellow-green group, similar to 145C and            145D.        -   Storage quality.—Medium to long shelf life (average 24            days).        -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not tested.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—High, with a large proportion of the crop            as parthenocarpic.        -   Uses.—Fruit to be hand harvested for fresh market.

SEED

-   General:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Very low, 1 seed per fruit.        -   Seed color.—Greyed orange 165A.        -   Seed length.—1.7 mm.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR CULTIVARS

Table 1 below provides a comparison between ‘C12-122’ and severalsimilar cultivars:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘C12-122’ with similar cultivars. ‘C99-42’‘Snowchaser’ (U.S. (U.S. Plant Plant Pat. No. Pat. No. Characteristics‘C12-122’ 20,695P2) 19,503P3) Plant vigour Strong Weak to Medium mediumPlant growth habit Upright Semi-upright to Semi- intermediate uprightOne year old shoot Medium Very short Short length of internodes to shortLeaf length Long to short Long very long Leaf length (mm) 69.9 ± 4.7 53.10 ± 0.8  61.50 ± 0.9  Leaf width Broad Very narrow Broad to narrowLeaf width (mm) 36.6 ± 2   22.9 ± 1.3  34.3 ± 1.5  Flower size ofcorolla Small Medium Medium Flower corolla length 7.3 ± 0.4 9.7 ± 0.39.5 ± 0.3 (mm) Fruit cluster density Dense Sparse Medium Fruit size VerySmall to Small to large medium medium Fruit weight (g) 4.1 ± 0.9  1.9 ±0.39  1.7 ± 0.21 Fruit diameter (mm) 20.1 ± 1.7  15.6 ± 0.96 15.10 ±0.97  Fruit depth of calyx basin Medium Medium Shallow Fruit intensityof bloom Strong Weak to Weak to medium medium Fruit firmness Firm Firmsoft Soluble solid content (%) 12 13.1 14 Titratable acidity (%) 1 0.40.7 Time of vegetative Late Early early bud burst Time of beginningEarly Early to Very early of flowering medium to early Time of beginningEarly Early to Very early of fruit ripening medium to early

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberryplant named ‘C12-122’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.